Sentencing

JURI Number:

4256

Credit Hours:

2

Course Description:

This course will introduce students to the evolving field of U.S. Sentencing Law. The United States has the highest documented incarceration rate in the world. At the moment, there are over 7.3 million people in the U.S. on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole. This equals 3.2% of U.S. adult residents (equivalent to 1 out of every 31 people in the U.S.). Further, 2.3 million U.S. adult residents are incarcerated (which equals 1% of U.S. adult residents). This class will broadly examine the principles and practices of sentencing. While federal sentencing law has received the most attention in recent years, particularly since the creation of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, it is impossible to understand the current dynamics or the likely future trends of federal sentencing without also looking more broadly. As such, along with federal sentencing, this course will examine state sentencing systems and alternatives to sentencing in both the federal and state systems. Furthermore, as incarceration is the central tenet of American sentencing law, this course will introduce students to the U.S. prison system.